Advocacy Group Calls for Kiefer Sutherland to be Dropped From Car Ads

Advocacy Group Calls for Kiefer Sutherland to be Dropped From Car Ads 12/10/07

A Canadian campaign group is calling for 24 actor Kiefer Sutherland to be dropped from promoting Ford cars following his conviction for driving under the influence (DUI).

The 40-year-old star is currently serving a 48-day sentence at the private Glendale City Jail in California after turning himself into Los Angeles police last Wednesday (05Dec07). Sutherland was handed the sentence after he was caught drink driving in September (07).

And now advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) wants Ford Motor Company in Canada to pull all TV advertisements which are voiced by Sutherland - because he needs to learn from his mistakes.

Andrew Murie, chief executive of MADD Canada, says, "Ford Motor Company has a wonderful opportunity to send Mr. Sutherland a fairly strong message.

"There should never be an excuse, when you can afford your own driver or your own limousine, to ever get into this situation. It astounds me that Mr.

Sutherland would ever put himself in this position."

But the car manufacturer is refusing to bow directly to pressure from MADD Canada.

In a statement released on Friday (07Dec07), the firm says: "While Ford of Canada currently has a contract with Kiefer Sutherland as the voice for some TV commercials, we are evaluating that position.

"Kiefer Sutherland is serving the sentence for his crime and we are glad it appears that he will attend education programs and receive therapy."